Google to Take on Whatsapp with its own Messaging App

There is no shortage of messaging apps for smartphones. For whatever operating system you are using, there would be multiple messaging app options for you. Now internet’s Godzilla, Google will be making its foray into the market. The app is expected to be put to test in India and other emerging markets.

The report published by Economic Times said Google sent its top product manager Nikhyl Singhal to India for a recce of the messaging app ecosystem in the country. The app is currently in the developmental stage and is expected to be launched in 2015.

The app will take on the likes of Whatsapp, Hike and Others

The app will be free to use and will not require users to use a Google account for login. It will also free to use in comparison to Whatsapp’s freemium model. Google might give the app some autonomy just like Facebook gave Whatsapp.

Google is paying heightened attention to India because the country is expected to become the second biggest mobile market by 2019. It is also expected to have a 500 million strong internet using population by 2018. There appears to be a huge scope for the tech giant to cash in on these users.

Coming to the app at hand, Google really has to bring something convenient and unique on the table as there is a massive user-base in India which has grown comfortable with Whatsapp. To lure them the company has to put in some serious effort otherwise it will also turn into a ghost town like Google Plus.